Bridgetown, Barbados August 9th, 2017 (CDEMA) – The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is currently coordinating cleanup and recovery operations post a flash flood event in the BVI on August 7 and 8, 2017. The flash flooding was caused by heavy rainfall from a Tropical Wave. Rainfall in excess of eight inches was recorded in certain areas. The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services issued a flash flood warning for the BVI the evening of August 7, 2017 and it remained in effect up till 2:00 p.m. August 8, 2017.
The flash flood resulted in power outages across the Territory, roadways in low lying areas were impassable, and the water distribution network was damaged. Road crews from the Public Works Department and crews from the BVI Electricity Corporation are working to clear roadways and restore electricity across the Territory.
The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service has also alerted the DDM of another Tropical Wave (Invest 99L) that will likely to cause cloudy skies, showers and thunderstorms across the Territory from Thursday August 10, 2017. Given these predictions, the DDM has advised individuals to take precautionary measures to reduce the likelihood of flooding as the Territory is already saturated from previous rains and any addition could potentially worsen the conditions on the ground.
The CDEMA Coordinating will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.